With hundreds upon hundreds of credit card offers to choose from, you should be able to find one that suits your financial situation and goals.
Conversely, with so many to consider, it can take a good amount of time to learn what each one has to offer.
The best way to successfully compare credit cards is to answer these five questions for each offer you’re considering:
1. What makes it stand out from the crowd?
Even when two credit card offers appear to be the same, nothing could be further from the truth. Dig around to find out what makes each offer unique. The information you collect will help you make a confident decision.
2. Is there anything you don’t particularly care for?
Just the same as the benefits, you also need to focus on any disadvantages of each offer. For example, you may not like the fact that a specific credit card charges a high annual fee. Or maybe the interest rate is higher than you would like.
You hope to find the perfect credit card, but you’re likely to come across at least one point that doesn’t sit well with you. As long as you know about it upfront, you don’t have to worry about any surprises down the road.
3. What do you get in terms of customer service?
This question is often put on the back burner, as many consumers assume they’ll never contact customer service. Don’t make this mistake. The best credit card issuers are the ones that truly care about their customers. They’ll do whatever it takes, within reason, to make you happy.
4. What are other people saying about the credit card?
Ask family and friends about which credit card they carry. Ask them to provide you with more information on the pros and cons. Also, go online to dig up as many reviews as you can find.
If one person after the next is complaining about the same thing, there’s a good chance it’s a legitimate concern. The same holds true if everyone seems to agree on the positive points.
5. Does it align with your financial goals?
You never want to choose a credit card just to get it over with. Your decision should be based largely on your financial goals and how you plan on using the credit card.
For instance, some people are interested in a travel rewards credit card because they spend a lot of time on the road. Others, however, share the goal of securing the credit card with the lowest interest. This is because they don’t want to pay any more than they have to when they carry a balance.
Final Thoughts
When you answer these questions, among others, you’ll find yourself in better position to choose the perfect credit card. Once you’re confident in your decision, complete an application and wait for your approval. From there, you can start using your credit card and taking advantage of its many benefits.
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